Mother Of Monsters [GoT]

𝔰𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫.

The girls had reacted surprisingly positively to their father's request that they return home. With Vaela watching over them and teaching them, it was only surprising to Ned Stark that they'd want to return. The only thing they complained about was, for Arya leaving Syrio, and for Sansa leaving the progress she'd made on Joffrey. It was Vaela who encouraged them to leave and pack up, as if they already hadn't.

Joffrey is nothing like that old, drunk king. The words remained in both Vaela's and Ned's minds as they watched the girls leave. Immediately, the older man hobbled over to his desk where the book of noble houses lay. Turned already to the chapter of Baratheon lords and ladies, Ned started to read.

"Lord Orys Baratheon, black of hair," he said aloud. He traced a finger over the writing. From over his shoulder, Vaela read the next name. He read the following one. All black of hair.

The peices seemed to fit together in both of their minds as they read on. A trait of house Baratheon is their black hair, mother told me. She thought in her mind as if the Stark lord could hear. Even some Targaryens wed born from the Baratheon line were black of hair. "Robert Baratheon, black of hair."

"And Joffrey Baratheon?" She asked the stars in the sky. "Golden-haired." Ned looked at her then, a nervous look in his eyes.

"This information, you can't tell anyone." He rose shakily from his seat. Leaning mostly on his cane, the man went to his only raven. The Hand of the King is only allowed one raven, she asked herself. Before he could even think of grabbing the quill and paper to write a letter, she stepped in front of him.

She gave him a hard look, grey eyes boring into his own grey eyes, and spoke. "And neither should you. Do not confront anyone, lord Stark. It would not be wise to cause such commotion until the King returns."

"I am the King in his stead-"

She was quick to correct him. "You are acting as his King but only when you judge the crimes of the townspeople and poorfolk. The Lannisters would have your head if you even whispered this notion to the court's ears. Please, for the sake of all that is good remaining in the world, do not tell anyone. It is far too early."

"Early? Is there a plan I was not told about?" Aye, she thought.

Shaking her head quickly, her mind raced for what to reply with. "No plan, my lord. But I know what Cersei Lannister might do if you so much as insinuated on the notion." You will ruin my chances for anything I need to go right. Jaime will never trust me, Joffrey will never trust your daughter. You need to keep your mouth shut.

Even after the great Eddard Stark swore that he would not tell anyone and that he would wait to tell the King himself, she knew he was lying. It would not end well for them, she thought drearily as she left his chambers for the night.

Walking back from Ned's chambers to her own, Vaela found herself thinking endlessly about what Joffrey's bastardy could mean for the Realm. Robert's brother will be next in line. She did not know if she liked the idea. She didn't know much about Stannis Baratheon but she knew he was a stern and calculating man. And the Lannisters? Cersei will be shunned, we can only hope. Her children will be stripped of their titles and returned to her golden castle.